Sweden enjoyed a clean sweep in The R&A Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur championships after Viggo Olsson Mörk and Havanna Torstensson and claimed memorable victories in their respective finals at two of Yorkshire’s leading clubs.
Olsson Mörk came back from five down after 12 holes to defeat Scott Woltering from the Netherlands 4&3 in their showdown at Moortown, while 16-year-old Torstensson surged to a 8&7 triumph over Matylda Krawczynska of Poland to win the 95th staging of the Girls’ Amateur at Alwoodley.
Boys’ Amateur
In a topsy-turvy morning session, Woltering surged to a four-up lead after only seven holes. The Dutch player then made key putts from 15 feet and five feet to halve both 10 and 11, and then pressed home his advantage when holing his second shot at the par-5 12th for a stunning eagle.
Olsson Mörk refused to buckle and replied with a winning birdie at 13 and soon claimed three holes in-a-row after costly errors from Woltering at 14 and 15 to reduce his deficit to two.
A roar of delight took the Netherlands player back three ahead after a nine-feet birdie putt on 16, but he took two shots from a greenside bunker on the short 17th and then pulled his drive on 18 to take a penalty drop and lose both holes.
Woltering claimed the 19th with a birdie, but a run of three bogeys then allowed his rival to lead for the first time at the 22nd. Woltering immediately replied after a glorious tee shot set up a winning birdie at the next, but he was one down again when Olsson Mörk birdied the par-5 25th. He then misjudged his approach putt at the 28th for bogey and a two-hole deficit. As the Swede continued his steady play, Woltering bogeyed at the 31st to fall three down and another bogey at the 33rd ended the contest.
Olsson Mörk said: “I can’t believe this. I never thought I was out of it, but it felt far away after Scott holed out for his eagle on 12. I had lost count of how many holes I was behind. He then smashed a driver down the 13th, and it wasn’t looking too good.
“But I just tried to believe and knew there were many holes left to play. I did my absolute best to try and fight back and never give up. It turned out pretty good.”
For all the scores from the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championships, visit www.randa.org
Girls’ Amateur
Havanna Torstensson seized an early advantage in her match against over Matylda Krawczynska with a six-feet birdie putt on the 3rd hole of the morning’s opening round and, from then on, she was in total control.
Krawczynska, a three-time Polish junior champion, struggled to replicate the form that had swept her into the final, Torstensson’s assured play fortified her position of authority and she was six-up through 11 holes.
Krawczynska could not gain a foothold in the tussle, but the 18-year-old trundled in a 25-footer on the 15th for a birdie to give herself a much-needed lift.
The Pole then clawed another hole back on 17 when Torstensson shanked her second shot into the trees but the Swede moved back into a five-hole lead on 18.
Having won the opening two holes of the afternoon to extend her lead to seven, Torstensson was in charge and Krawczynska’s day would unravel on the 28th hole when she thinned a bunker shot over the green and lost her ball. Her concession there meant that Torstensson was seven-up with just eight to play and the victory was sealed on the short 29th when Krawczynska’s par putt lipped-out and Torstensson tidied up a title-winning three.
The winner said: “It feels amazing. I can’t believe it really, but I am so happy. I played some very steady golf. I didn’t make many mistakes and I played the par-5s very well. It’s the biggest win of my career and I’m already looking forward to playing again next year.
Torstensson becomes just the third Swede, after Anna Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth, to win the Girls’ Amateur.
For all the scores from the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championships, visit www.randa.org